Lopez Lomong didn't win a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but he got one today in Tully from 8-year-old Joshua Blackburn.

Joshua, who has won 18 gold medals and three silver medals in the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged since he began competing in 2006, became a fan of Lomong when the former Tully track and cross-country star qualified in July to represent the United States in the 15,000-meter race at the Olympic Games.

Before a crowd of more than 2,000 people who gathered outside the Tully Elementary School on State Street, Johsua gave Lomong the medal he won in June in the 60-meter run of the Empire Games.

Lomong thanked Joshua, gave him an U.S. Olympic cap and autographed the picture post card of him carrying the U.S. flag at the Olympics Opening Ceremonies.

"Joshua, you're my role model," Lomong wrote on the postcard.

(AP Photo/David Guttenfelder)Lopez Lomong carries the United States flag at the opening ceremony for the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

"I like Lopez because he carried the American flag," Joshua said. "It was really exciting to see Lopez. I think he's cool."

Joshua, who was born with cerebral palsy, said he decided to gave Lomong his medal a few days ago when he heard he was in town and would be leading the parade during Tullys 14th annual community fair.

About 40 vendors from local businesses, churches, community groups and crafters participated in the event which raises money for the Tully Historical Society. The parade began at Tully High School on Elm Street. Lomong and Joshua rode in a 1968 Chevelle SS396 which led the parade from the high school to the elementary school.

Thousands gathered to see Lomong, who led the U.S. athletes and carried the U.S. flag during the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. The crowd cheered Lomong as the Chevelle pulled up in front of the school. "Lopez, Lopez, Lopez," they chanted.

Adults and children hugged him as he got out of the car. He kept thanking them and said, "wow," several times as he looked at the crowd across the lawn.

"Tully Senior Center salutes Lopez Lomong," read a sign on one of the cars in the parade. Many people wore T-shirts inscribed with Lomong's name. Lomong posed for photos for many people including the Black Knights football team.

Dorothy Grace, of Tully, said Lomong empitomizes the American dream. Lomong, one of the Lost Boys from Sudan, was 6 when he was arrested at gunpoint by government soldiers recruiting children to fight in the Sudanese army. He fled along with thousands of young boys who trekked across the country and ended up in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where he lived for 10 years. In 2001, he found a home and family in Central New York. He was one of six young boys from Sudan who were taken in by Robert and Barbara Rogers, of Otisco Lake. He starred in track and cross-country at Tully High School and became one of the nation's fastest collegiate middle distance runners before making the U.S. Olympic team. In Beijing, he made it to the semifinal, but failed to qualify for the finals.

"I just want to thank the people of Tully for giving me the hope," Lomong told a cheering crowd. "I thank the people of America for opening their hearts and doors to the Lost Boys of Sudan to be able to come here."

"He's an example of a person who found the American dream," Grace said. "Out of Africa, here he comes. This is the American dream and we need to emphasize that."